Ohio Democrat website spotlights Sen. Nine Turner

By MARC KOVACDix Capital Bureau Published: April 1, 2013 4:00 AM

COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Democratic Party announced a new website Thursday to spotlight one of its expected candidates for statewide office next year.

State Sen. Nina Turner, from Cleveland, has not committed to challenging GOP Secretary of State Jon Husted in 2014, though she is widely rumored to be the likely candidate and has had her name on fundraising emails from the state party.

The site is being backed by Turner's campaign fund and includes a request for contributions, plus information about where she stands on different issues connected to the secretary of state's office, including "fair elections," "voting rights" and "jobs."

"Everywhere State Sen. Nina Turner goes, people are coming to her in droves, asking her if she will run for secretary of state next year," Chris Redfern, a state representative and chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, said in a released statement. "Ohioans are saying, 'run, Nina, run' because she's been such a passionate advocate for fair elections and voting rights. The Ohio Democratic Party and supporters all over the state are thrilled that Sen. Turner is considering a run for secretary of state."

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Turner has been a vocal critic of Husted and has introduced legislation this session to counter his 2012 election directives related to early voting hours and provisional ballots.

In recent days, she has also appeared with other potential Democratic candidates for statewide office, including state Reps. Connie Pillich and John Carney, former Cincinnati Councilman and Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper and Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald.

Marc Kovac is the Dix Capital Bureau Chief. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.